Sorter



Aug. 16, 1932. g, 055 51'' AL 1,871,471

I SORTER Filed Dec. 11. 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 WITNESSES ATTORNEY Avg. 16, 1932. C ROSE E AL 1,871,471

" sofn'ER Filed Dec. l l, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 awa IOQQOO llllw g: 8% BY ATTORNEY M. c. ROSE ET AL 1,871,471

SORTER Filed Dec. 11, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Aug. 16, 1932.

ATTORNEY WITNESSES Aug. 16, 1932. 3, 055 ET AL v 1,871,471

SORTER Filed'Dec. 11', 1928 4 Sheets- Sheet 4 Patented Aug. 16,1932

tin-1i MEEBITT G. ROSE, BERT It. BOSEQAND HENRY L. ROSE, OF BABMA, IDAHO soiarnn V Application filed December11,'1928. Serial No. 325,240.

This invention relates to improvements in sorters, or sortlng tables as they are sometimes termed, and consists of the construetrons, combinatlons and arrangements here '6 in described and claimed.

An object of the invention is to provide a sorter in which certain so called eliminating belts are made to perform the double purpose of discarding objects of an obj ectionably larger objects to the grading rolls by which such objects are continuously turned so that an inspector can cast out the defective objects and permit the others topass 011.. I5,

vide a certain elevating rod rwhich'bothsupports a chute beneath the eliminating belts.

and is so disposed crosswise ofthe belts as to raise objects protruding through perforations the belts, causing such objects to pass onto the grading .rolls and preventing sticking and clogging offthe belt mechanism;

A further object of the invention is to I adapt the sorter to the purpose .otisorting 7 fruit, apples being herein specified merely for the purpose of stating one particular use of V sary to regulate the s1ze of the perforations taken on the line 3-3 of Figure l igureit is a cross" section of the upper bearing block taken on the line 4-4 of F igure 3.

Figure 5 is a Figure 3.

Figure Figure 3.

"' Figure 3.

Figure 8 is adetail side elevation of a portionot' the eliminating device as viewed in the opposite direction from Figuresland 3, particularly showing the idler drive and one of the swinging boxes. f I I small size and conveying the; remaining-but.

Figured? is a detail longitudinal sectionsection'on the line 55 of 6 is section on thehne 6-60)? Figure 7 is a section on the line 77 of scription proceeds.

' Figure9 is a detail section taken substantially on the line 99 of Figure 1.

Figure 10' is across section of the lower bearing block taken substantially on the line 10; 10 of Figure 9. v

It has been previously indicated that the sorter is intended forthe particular purpose of sorting apples, butthat this purpose is merely illustrative and is not to be construed as a restriction on the use of the invention. It may be used in the sorting of agricultural products other than apples, and it is even conceivable'that the principles of the inven f t-ion maybe employed for the sorting of other Another object of the invention is to pro-- objects.

number of advantageous features.

nating d'evice.- Thisdevice includes perforated belts which convey the apples from the loading hopper to the grading irolls. "In so conveying the apples, those that are objectionably small will be discardedlat the'begin' nin'g by virtue of rations; v V V .c

According to this principle,.it is only necesin order to secure any desired preliminary separation of the apples. For example, perforations larger than those herein content: plated would causethe dFscardingQf all but the very largest apples. By having. the objectionably vsmall fruit cast out in, the beginning, the operatives will be concerned only with looking for bruised or other dei iective fruit. I

Another novel arrangement resides .in a so-called rod whichprevents the sticking of the apples in the perforations of the el minating belts; This rod is so located that such apples will be pushed upand out of the pertorations, thus avoiding the likelihood of j am 7 minge There are other novelfeatures in the device, but these will vbe developedas the fde- Attention is directed to the drawings; 'A frame-work, generally designated -1,- comprises legs 2, a set oflongitudinal and'parallel stiles 8, upper and-lower heads-liand 5 (Figures an arrangement ofbrac falling through the perioj c I c ing of which all elements are designated 6, and a base frame 7 which has uprights 8. The base frame is defined in part by an adjacent brace 6 of the framework (Figure 1),

and it is between this brace and base frame that a base 9 for a motor 10 is supported.

' This motor turns a drive wheel 11 by means of a belt 12.

For the purpose of distinction, that .of the sorter at the right of Figure 1 is herein known as the upper end, whilethe end at the left is known as the lower end. The upper legs 2 have brackets 13 (Figures 1, 3 and 8) fixedly secured thereto at 14 inorder to firmly apples from the belts 18. Theseslope to-.

ward the center of the eliminatingdevice 'wher'e-they-have a common outlet at the point 24'. The ends of the chutes confront each other adj acent to this point. The chute i 20 is disposed underthe chutes 28, and re adjacent edges of the primary chutes23.

ceives the apples discharged at'the point 24.

' The chute '20 slopes to one side of the sorter and'at the resulting deep-end has a slidable gate 25. This gate is closed when theattendant has other duties to perform, and is opened to let the accumulated apples out.

' -A'n angle-iron 26 (Fig. extending across the upper'end of the sorter supports A rod 27, also extending crosswise but of the upper 'endof the sorter, supports other but also adjacent edges of the chutes 23. The

angle iron and rodare located inside ofthe belts 18. They occur at opposite extremities of the primary chutes and support the primary chutes in the sag of the belts as plainly shown in Figures 3 and 7 r v The rod 27 is herein known'as the elevating rod. Although the adjacent edges of the" primary chutes 23 are curled over the elevating 'rod,it isactually the position of the elevating rod in reference to the upper sides ofthe belts 18 thatenabl-es those apples sticking in the perforations 19 to be pushed out before such apples can reach thedrive roll 28. Byjpushi'ng the apples out the elevatingrod 27 prevents any possibilityof the apples being crushed between the inside of the beltsand the adjacent right sideof the drive rollf28. This would set up an objectionable condition in theso rter. [But the elevating. rod prevents this and performs what is regar'ded'a very important function.

Briefiy reverting to the perforations 19, these may be arranged in any desired manner. It is probably preferable to arrange them in rows as shown in Fig. 2. The size of the perforations can be fixed to meet particular demands. That is to say, aset of belts 18 would have perforations of one size to discard apples of a particular small size but carryover apples largerthan the particular perforations. Another set of belts might have perforations either larger or smaller.

A tightener roll 29 bears against the undersides ofthe belts 18 in the direction of the drive roll 28 (Fig. 3). driven together by spur gears 30 fixed on one'aend of each: of the rolls (Fig. 8). The shaft 31 of the tightener .roll 29 is'carried by boxes 32 (see Fig. 8) supported by arms sef'wh'ich are pivotally' attached at 34 to the brackets 13. Bolts35; carried bythe brackets 13,-extend through op'enings in thearms 33 and carry springsf fiwhich are adjustable astotensio'n by nuts 37 onthe extremities of the bolts. Theeifectfof the springs is to hold'the tightener roll 29 up against the belts as previously'stated and as shown in Fig. 3.

An idler roll- 38 (Fig. completes the supports of the belts 18. This roll is suitably .journalled upon the'outside stiles 15 of'th e eliminating device, or insuch an other manner as: best"pract1cemay dictate. *Theidler roll adjoins a loading hopper '39. This hopper can be supported by the outside stiles 15. It comprises nothing more than a flanged trayinto which the'a'pples are dumped and fromvvhichthey are taken up by the perforated belts 18'of the eliminating device.

That end. of theshaft 40 of the-drive roll '28 oppositeto the end by which one of the gears 30: is carried'has a sprocket41 (Figs. 1 and 2) to which a chain 42 is applied.- The The two rolls are chain is also applied to a drive sprocket 43' on one end of a counter shaft 44 (Figs. 1 and 6'). The opposite end of the shaft carries a bevel gear 45 which meshes with and isdrivenfbyasimilar bevel gear on the shaft 46 of the drive wheel 11 already mentioned. The counter shaft 44 is suitably journalled at 47 upon the base frame 7.

-A cross shaft 48- (Figs. 1 and 6) carries sprockets 49 and 50. "The first of these is driven by a :chain'51 from'a sprocket 52 on the shaft 46. i The-fsecond of these is -to be regarded as one of a train of sprockets the other members ofwhich are designated 53in Fig. 6. These members are affixed to-the ex-f posed ends ofstub shafts 54 (Fig-3) driven into the upper ends ofthe grading rolls 22. Similar stub shafts 55 (Fig. 9) are driven- '-into the lower ends of the grading r'ollsg- A sprocket' chain 56 isthe common driver for all of the grading'roll sprockets 53. Obviously the chain-is continuous. In

addition to its application to the-sprocket train it runs over idler. pulleys357 which are so; placed as'to properly direct the chainand to hold the various components thereof whichis slotted in its base portion toreceive bolts60 (Fig. 1) by which theangle iron is afiixed to one of the outer stiles 3 of the framework.

By adjusting the angle iron 59 up and down the chain 56 can be tightened or loosened. The pulley 58 thus becomes a chain t-ightener. It is observed in Fig. 6 that the "common drive chain 56 runs along the underside of one set of sprockets and the upper side of the second set. The

' thus driven in opposite directions.

V where it discharges into a cull box 62.

corresponding sets otgrading rolls 22Tare his turning is toward the longitudinal center of the sorter.

. It is along the longitudinal center of the sorter that a cull chute 61 is located. This cull chute appears between the adjacent and central longitudinal stiles 3. The cull chute slopes toward the lower end of the sorter This box, like the small apple chute 20 in Fig.7, slopes to one side-(in this instance the opposite side) of the sorter. The deep end of,

the cull box has gate 63 which can be opened and closed for obvious purposes.

In practice the grading rolls 22will be given a slight pitch of approximately 6 inches in six feet of length. The slope will be toward the lower end of the sorter where the discharge of the inspected fruit occurs 3 and 9) may comprise angle irons inwhich bearing bars 66 and 67 are appropriately seated. These bearing bars are composed of hickory or other hard wood. They are boredwith sets of holes 68 (Figs. 1 and 10) by which the stub shafts 54. and 55 are received and in which these shafts have their Fine ducts 69 bored per pendicularly' to the holes 68 and communi principal bearing.

eating therewith permit oiling. The extremities of the grading rolls 22 are bound with steel or other bands 70. The purpose of the bands is to keep the rolls from splitting particularly when the stub shafts are'driven in. The bands also serve the purpose of holding the ends of the rolls in such a compressed statethat the split shafts cannot workout 7 nor turn within the rolls. 1 .V The operation is readily understood. The

operatives will be located at eachside of the V v sorter in Fig. 1 and watch. the apples as they move along the. grading rolls 22, from the upper right. handof the sorter to the lower left end.- The grading rolls are divided into twosets by the central cull chute 61, and one or more-operatives will stand beside each of the sets of rolls.

As the apples are revolved by the action of the gradi'ngrolls, and moved toward the lower end of the sorter by the spiral ropes 65, any imperfections will be seen. The undesirable apples will be picked'outfand thrown into the cull chute from which they are discharged into the cull box 62. .The'good apples'are permitted to dischargeupjon the offtake table 64.

loadinghopper 39. The eliminating. device aids the operatives in making a preliminary 1 separation of undesirable applesfromgood apples. Asthe apples are initially picked up by the perforations 19 in the belts 18 they will be conveyed over. the primarychutes23 (Fig. 7) which are located in .the sagof'the belts as shown'in Fig.3. Apples smaller than the perforations will drop through and be 'discharged into the chute 20, (Fig. 7). The other apples will be conveyed on to the grading rolls. .7

he elevating rod 27 is-so located beneath the upper sides of the belts 18 that the pro,- truding portions of thefapples will be pushed up and out before the drive roll 28 is reached. For example, the apple a inFig. 3 will be pushed out whenit reaches the rod 27 Were it not fortherod, itmight'be possible for the apple to stick in the perforation so tightly that the protruding portion would be crushed between the belt and the drive roll 28. This would set up an objectionable condition.

The eliminating device might become.

jammed. The manner in which the tightener roll 29V is mounted and operated is easily understood. I 1

The arms 33 by which the bearing boxes of this rolla-re carried are capable of swinging comprises the center. The tightener roll 29 'as shown in Fig.3. v There is no likelihood place.

on the arc of a circle of which the pivot 34 will thus alwaysbeheld well underthe belts -As the apples are discharged from the eliminating device theypass over the guards 21. These guards cover the sprocket trainv 53' iniFig. 6. They prevent dirt, twigs, leaves, etc. from falling into the gear train. But the guards are mounted as on ahinge, and' can be raised to gain accesstothe gear trainp r J There are a number ofadvantageous'feia- 85' A supply of apples 1s dumpedupon the .9. discharged upon the grading rolls and all tures in the sorter. There is quite demand for devices of this kind in apple raising terri- V tories, but it is often the case that known" sorters are of a sufliciently complicated nature Tile-i apples.

to make the price rather higher. This sorter is cheaply constructed of material thatcanv be had in almost any shop. Butthe 'cheap ness of construction in no way makes for a sacrifice in strength because the sorter is very sturdy and durable when completed.

The location of the cull chute 61 makes for convenience inthe use of the sorter. V The operatives will always be required to face their'work, and it'is a matter of the least effort to pick defective fruit from the grading rolls 22 and toss it into the centrally-located cull chute. Much of the work of separation is accomplished by the eliminating device. Only apples of a certain size will be that the operatives have to do is to look for partially decayed or otherwise defective The repeatedreference to apples is not to be regarded as a limitation upon the use'ofthe sorter. Things other than apples can be assorted. For instance the sorter might be" used for peaches or oranges.

some stress is to be placed on the importance of the cull chute 61. This is intended to be' of practically unlimited capacity. Sometimes theapples run as high as 75% culls when a poor job of spraying has been V p V I and means to both support the rece ving .means and stand in the way of protruding Y done. Often the percentage-bf culls runs dislodgingthe apples sticking in the perforations.

rated belt upon one side of which apples are to be loaded, rolls over which the belt trained, guide means to-sustain. one side. of

3. A sorter comprising an endlessrperfo the belt leaving the other side tojsag, a trough I situated between the sides of the belt, being accommodated by the sagto receive small apples dropping through the perforations, and means extending transversely of the guide means and in the direction of an ad A joining one of the rolls serving the. double purpose of supporting the trough and elevating apples sticking in the perforations before said apples can reach such roll.

' BERT R: ROSE.

HENRY L. ROSE; MERRITT C. ROSE.

as low as 10%. When the percentage of culls runs high the sorter must have ample provision for: the disposal thereof. The chute is the thing that will serve the purpose. A conveyorbelt would not do because a belt of the necessary and desired sizewould be separation of apples large enough tofllodge in the perforations from'apples small enough,

to pass through the perforations, means to receive the small apples passing through,

parts of the lodged apples to push said apples out of the perforations.

2. A sorter comprisingan endless perfo-- rated belt upon one side oflwhich apples. are

to be loaded, a trough to receive small apples dropping through the "perforations, and means extending crosswise of the belt to both support the trough andact as an elevator for 

